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Packing Must Haves for Princess Half Marathon Weekend

2/14/2020

I don't know if it is because I am a total pre-planner or the excitement of heading to Walt Disney World (or both), but it is time for me to start packing for Princess Half Marathon Weekend. I have a few busy few days leading up to leaving for Florida, so I am starting to layout and organize some of my stuff for Disney. I am a list person for sure, especially when packing. In case you are still packing yourself, here is a list of some of my most important things to pack for race-cation.

Expo:
ID
Waiver(s)
Cash/Credit card/Giftcards
Race information (expo times, expo layout, etc)

Race Day:
Shoes (multiple pairs for multiple races)
Shirt
Shorts
Sports bra/undergarments
Socks
Throw away clothes or garbage bag (great for cold/wet weather)
Hair ties
Sparkly Soul Headbands
Handheld bottle/Hydration belt
Bib holder/Race Belt
iPod (and charger)
Garmin/watch (and charger)
RoadID
Pre-race food (banana, power bar, etc)
Fuel - Gu, chews, etc
Vaseline/Body Glide
KT Tape (make sure to precut your strips or have scissors)
Sunglasses
Hat/Visor
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Medication/Inhaler

Post Race:
Park Tickets
Recovery shoes/sandals
Recovery sleeves/socks
Foam Roller/The Stick
Travel first aid kit
Blister Pads
Gallon zip-bags for icepacks
Plastic bag for dirty race clothes (or use gear check bag)
Biofreeze
Tylenol

General Items:
Shirts
Jacket
Shorts
Jeans
Undergarments
Socks
Comfortable shoes
Bathing Suit (if doing pool time)
Pajamas
Cell phone charger
Portable cellphone charger
Medications
Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razor, etc)

Yes, race-cation packing can be stressful. Just make your list and check it twice. Remember that a lot of what you might need can be purchased at your destination in a worst case scenario, but certain things cannot be easily replaced and those are your absolute MUST NOT FORGETS!

FINAL COUNTDOWN TO PRINCESS HALF MARATHON WEEKEND 2020: #TBT PRINCESS HALF MARATHON 2013-2019

2/13/2020

It was just yesterday that we were panicking trying to get registered for Princess Half Marathon weekend 2020 - where did time go!?!? Next week thousands of princesses (and a few smart and lucky princes) will be pounding the pavement on a 13.1 mile journey through Walt Disney World.

This will be my 8th Princess Half Marathon (and 7th Fairy Tale Challenge, formally known as Glass Slipper Challenge), and I am as excited as ever for the weekend. Momma K and I have spent many cold and windy mornings training for this weekend. It is to a point where it seems like Princess weekend and WDW are the only things that we talk about right now. To celebrate the final few days before Princess Half Marathon weekend 2020 kicks off, here is a look back at a few highlights of the past five years:

In 2013 I spent a lot of time waiting in character lines for pictures - like 15+ minutes for the pirates, and another 10-15 minutes for the princes (the pictures were so worth it). While I went solo in 2013, it was still an absolutely magical and amazing weekend!

In 2014, I paced Momma K to completing her first half marathon which was one of the most magical memories of my life! You only get one first half marathon, and I think she would agree with me by saying that it was one of the most memorable days of her life.

The 2015 Princess Half Marathon weekend was Frozen themed. In keeping with the theme we dressed as Anna and Elsa with our sidekick Olaf along with us. This was a huge one for Momma K as she PRed by about 10 minutes that morning.

2016 was definitely a half marathon of highs and lows. We were rocking our way through the course when Momma K found the only pothole on Disney property in front of Grand Floridian at mile 6.5. Don't worry though, a gashed up knee didn't damper our fun. Sure we walked the last 6 miles, but we were having a blast! That is what runDisney is really about!

2017 was one of the best years EVER! We didn't have any unexpected drama (like Momma K's tumble of 2016) and we just spent 13.1 glorious miles laughing and enjoying time with friends old and new. It was everything that I could possibly ever want for my Princess Half Marathon experience and that is all I could ask for.

In 2018, I ended up running into my sweet friend, Kara, at a character photo around mile 4 and we had a BLAST running the last 9ish miles together. It was a little on the warmer side last year, so slowing down and having fun is just what we needed.

Last year I took on Walt Disney World on a magic carpet ride! Well, kinda...via my legs, but you get the point. With my magic lamp in tow, There were many attempts to have the genie appear and get three wishes. While no genie appeared, it was great weather and a great run, so that wish was granted.

Now it is time to get your final costume preparations done (and test run in them!), the last training runs logged, and get ready to head to Walt Disney World! Get your tiaras ready friends, it is time to go to DISNEY!

6 Ways to Celebrate Princess Half Marathon Weekend

2/12/2020

After you earn your tiara by running the Princess 5K, 10K, Half Marathon or any combination of the three, it is time to celebrate your accomplishments. Whether you ran your first 5K or your 50th half marathon, every princess (or prince) deserves to be celebrated. Obviously you are at Disney and everyone's thought is to simply hit up the parks. Here are a few things that our family enjoyed celebrating the past 3 years after running at Princess Half Marathon weekend.

1. Room Decorations
What better way to let the world know that running princesses (or princes) are present than having cute room/window decor. I use a mixture of princess themed party decor and special homemade decorations to add a little bit of pizzazz to our windows. It is a really cute and fun way to let everyone know that you are a runDisney princess!

2. Gifts
The 2014 Princess Half Marathon was Momma K's first half marathon and I surprised her with a 13.1 gift basket waiting for her in the room when we got back (thanks to Papa J setting it out while we were gone). You can choose to spoil your favorite princess with a variety of gifts such as favorite snacks, 13.1 stickers, shirts, etc.

3. Castle Pictures
Get your picture in front of the castle (bonus points for jump pictures, but hold onto your bling). While this might seem obvious, I have had friends totally forget to get a castle picture until they are leaving the park. Make sure you let your princess side shine!

4. Enjoy a Celebratory Dinner/Breakfast
It has become a tradition for us to go to breakfast with the princesses the morning after the half marathon at Akershus. Let's face it though, you are more than likely going to be "rungry" after the race, so what better way to celebrate than with some good eats to refuel.

5. Visit Your Favorite Princesses in the Parks
After earning your tiara and/or glass slipper, why not go visit Cinderella and her friends for some great medal pictures. I may or may not already have my FastPass+ reservations for Cinderella.

6. Become a "Certified Princess"
I always enjoy taking my bib to the parks or character dining and have some of the princesses sign my bib. This made for a wonderful momento from the race weekend. Even if you don't make it to a princess dining experience, you can have characters in the park sign your bib for you.

Question of the Day: How do you plan on celebrating your accomplishments during Princess weekend?

#TBT: Enchanted 10K 2014-2019

2/6/2020

Princess Half Marathon weekend 2020 is now just two weeks away! (***insert scream here***). I am starting my final preparations to head to Walt Disney World - costumes, wrapping up training runs, and starting to get things together to pack.

The Enchanted 10K was a new addition to Princess weekend in 2014 which also added the Glass Slipper Challenge (10K on Saturday and 1/2 Marathon on Sunday)...renamed in 2018 the Fairy Tale Challenge. The course for the Enchanted 10K mirrors the course for the WDW 10K during Marathon weekend. The race starts in the EPCOT parking lot and the first few miles are on the roads before you enter into EPCOT around mile 3.5. After running through World Showcase for a mile or so, runners head for a loop around Boardwalk. Running around Boardwalk is one of my favorite parts of the course because a lot of spectators are out cheering for runners as well as the occasional WDW visitor wondering what in the world is going on as they are heading to the bakery for some coffee. Finally, runners enter back into EPCOT's Future World before finishing in the EPCOT parking lot.

As we get ready for the final days and preparations for race weekend, let's take a look back at my past four years at the Enchanted 10K.

The Enchanted 10K was our first runDisney race as a family, so it holds a special place in our hearts to say the least. Here is a look back at our 2014 Enchanted 10K moments as 2 Belles and our "Princess Protector"

For the 2015 Enchanted 10K we went 'Under the Sea' as Ariel, Flounder, and our 'crabby' sidekick Sebastian. We had an absolute blast making our way through EPCOT and crossing the finish line as a family.

In 2016, Snow White spent 6.2 trying to outrun a sweet old lady that was insisting on sharing a snack with her. Lucky for Snow White, she kept her Prince near by, just in case!

2017 we went a non-princess route as Tigger and Piglet made their way through the 6.2 mile course and of course stopped in England to say hello to our friend Pooh and the rest of the gang! This just proves that you don't have to dress as a princess to be a part of the costuming fun during Princess Half Marathon weekend. ;-)

In 2018 I took my love of Moana and Pua to the 10K course. This was one of my favorite 10K costumes that I have worn over the years. Of course, the stuffed Pua made it even more fun. This was the first year that I hit almost every single character stop along the 10K course and I hope to get to do so again in two weeks.

2019 was the year of "Slinky Dog's Amazing Adventure" as he and Jesse took to the 6.2 mile course around Epcot and Boardwalk. Sometimes it is all about the props, and he was one of my favorite props/friends that I have ran with over the years. I mean, the photos were pretty hilarious.

We are hard at work on wrapping up our training and of course our COSTUMES! Who will we be running as in 2020? Only time will tell! ;-)

Question of the Day: Do you have any special races (runDisney or not) that your family runs together?

#TBT: MEMORIES OF PRINCESS 5K 2013-2019

1/30/2020

It is hard to believe that Princess Half Marathon weekend 2020 is quickly approaching. It seems like just yesterday we were frantically registering for our races (if you have ever ran a runDisney race you know what I am talking about). Now, all of our final preparations are coming together - a few more training runs, finishing up costumes, and printing up our waivers. Only 20 days until I arrive at Walt Disney World - not that I am counting or anything.

Just about three weeks from tomorrow Momma K and I are running the Princess 5K. The 5Ks at runDisney events are a little different than your typical 5K - there are no results since it is un-timed and you receive super cute bling. We like to use the 5K as a shakeout run and a chance to get some great pictures with characters. The 5K will start and finish in the EPCOT parking lot and the course leads you through the different countries of EPCOT's World Showcase.

For the next few weeks, I will share post a different #TBT themed post with fun memories from each race at the Princess Half Marathon weekend (5K, 10K, and Half Marathon). Hopefully this will get you as excited as I am for race weekend!

In 2013, Momma K and I ran the Royal Family 5K as Tink which was our first costume race. This was also our very first runDisney race and was full of memories for sure.

In 2014, Momma K was running her first half marathon at Princess (along with the Enchanted 10K the day before), so I ran the 5K solo. While I missed having her by my side, the best part about runDisney races is that you are never "alone" and I still had an absolutely wonderful time. Snow White has always been a favorite princess of mine, so I decided to represent her for the Cinderella 5K.

In 2015, our family ran the Frozen 5K together. While I would have loved seeing Papa J dressed in a Olaf costume, it wasn't happening. Instead, we decided to go a little different than the Frozen/Princess theme and went as the Chimney Sweeps from Mary Poppins. After this, Papa J said we could dress him as whatever we wanted, just as long as he didn't have a prop. LOL!

In 2016 we once again took part in a family costume - this time with a Sleeping Beauty theme. As always, it was such a wonderful (early) morning full of magical memories for us.

In 2017 we went back to my all time favorite Disney movie for our costume inspiration, Beauty and the Beast. I chose this theme for us before the race weekend theme came out, but lucky for us, our costume selections were not Belle so we did not blend into the sea of Belles.

2018 was the year of the amazing #Team2Hour5K experience. What started off as Julia, Momma K, and myself for the Princess 5K grew and grew each mile. We kept picking up more friends along the way, taking ALL the character photos and having 3.1 miles of laughs. Before we knew it, we were approaching two hours for our 5K time and #Team2Hour5K was born. It was the most amazing 5K ever and one that I will cherish and remember! I mean, how can you not remember one of your best friends applying red lipstick to you at mile 2.5?

Last year, I channeled my "Disney Basic" heart with my attire consisting of trendy Minnie ears, Disney vibes shirt, and a cup of coffee on the go. Since any quality "basic" girl is all about the 'grams, lots of photos were taken, wall photos, and I even ran with my own personal "purple wall" with me.

Papa J is opting out of the 3am wake up again this year, so it is just Momma K and I running this year. I cannot wait an see if our group grows again this year and if we can break that two hour record of ours!

I cannot wait to kick off Princess Half Marathon in less than 3 short weeks! What will our costumes be this year? Stay tuned!

WHY SHOULD YOU BE A MEMBER OF ATLANTA TRACK CLUB?

1/29/2020

I have been a member of Atlanta Track Club for eleven years now. I originally received my membership as a Christmas gift from Papa J. Little did I know then how much Atlanta Track Club would impact my life and help me grow as a runner. When I first became a member, I was not educated on all of the great perks of being a member. Well, over the years, membership perks have grown along with the club and they are pretty great if I may say so.

There are a number of amazing things happening in "Running City USA" this year, but the absolute biggest honor is that Atlanta is hosting the Olympic Trials for the marathon on February 29th! When you look at the Atlanta Track Club calendar of events, there is always something going on around metro-Atlanta so you know that it is going to be a great year of running fun!

There are a number of reasons that I would recommend becoming a member, but I wanted to highlight just a few of my favorite Atlanta Track Club perks. As a fun bonus, this year's Atlanta Track Club Membership swag includes a member hat, key chain, member key tag, and a discount card for Waffle House! Whooop!

1. Free Entry and Discounted Entry to Select Races Throughout the Year

Yes, you read that right, free and discounted races. Races can get pricey and the ability to run a race for free is pretty amazing if you ask me. Atlanta Track Club hosts a variety of free events around the metro-Atlanta area throughout the year as a part of their Grand Prix Series. To learn more about the series and the races that are free for Atlanta Track Club members go to the website here. There are also a number of other great races hosted by Atlanta Track Club that you must pay for, however a lot of them are discounted for Atlanta Track Club members. A list of upcoming Atlanta Track Club events can be found here.

2. Discounts on Running Gear.

If you have been a member of the running and fitness community for any length of time, you know how much your running gear bills can add up. As a perk for Atlanta Track Club members, you will receive 10% discount at several Atlanta area running stores including Big Peach Running Co., Phidippides, and West Stride. Just saving 10% off of your running shoes and other gear for the next year could pay for your membership.

3. Be a Part of the Running Community.

Atlanta has a great running community that is growing more every single day. As an Atlanta Track Club member, you will become a part of this awesome group throughout Atlanta. Whether you find fellow members at a local race, join an Atlanta Track Club training group, or interact with other people passionate about running and fitness on social media, Atlanta Track Club provides a supportive environment for all of their members. Atlanta Track Club also hosts a number of social events during the year that gives members the chance to meet-up and even hear some really cool speakers. No matter if you are a runner or a walker, if you are up and moving, Atlanta Track Club is the place for you.

4. Guaranteed Entry Into the AJC Peachtree Road Race.

One of the most popular perks of being a member of Atlanta Track Club is early entry into the Peachtree Road Race. Entry to the world's largest 10K is granted by random-draw lottery in the spring. Did you know that if you are a member of Atlanta Track Club by the February 1st you are granted the access to register for the Peachtree Road Race before the lottery even opens. Members are sent an email with instructions in February on how to register - you will receive a window of two weeks to register and if you don't register then you must enter the random-draw lottery in mid-March.

There are different membership packages available starting at $35/year (individual, dual, and family memberships are available). Interested in becoming a member of the Atlanta Track Club? Learn more about member benefits and become a member here.

Atlanta Track Club hosts some of the absolute best races in the Atlanta area each year. The 2020 Atlanta Track Club Event Calendar has been released and there are already a number of races that I am excited to run in early 2020. Be sure to check out these races and get registered!

February 1 - Hearts & Soles 5K - Decatur (FREE FOR MEMBERS!)
March 1 - Publix Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon - Atlanta
March 14 - Atlanta Hawks Fast Break 5K - Atlanta

Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon - January 11, 2020

1/27/2020

After a day of travel, expo'ing, and a quick trip over to Magic Kingdom for dinner, an early bedtime awaited me since I was waking up at 2:15am for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon!

Typically I don't sleep well before a big race (especially at Disney), but for some reason I had a decent sleep. Don't get me wrong, 2:15am is still a stupid and ridiculous time to wake up. Seriously, runners are pretty dumb - we wake up at horrific hours to go run silly distances....and we pay to do it! Honestly though, I love it and wouldn't trade it for the world (even a few extra hours of sleep).

Jen and I were on one of the first buses from Pop Century over to EPCOT and arrived just shortly after 3am.

Since we got there early, security was a still light. Typically, I would be heading to Race Retreat after arriving to the race. I have always loved the comfort and little bit of VIP treatment from it. Jen and I call Race Retreat "insurance on your race morning" simply because you are in a controlled environment pre-race (and post-race).

This year they no longer had Race Retreat and instead had Runner's Square. Runner's Square offered a pre-race breakfast, private portos and gear check and a few other amenities. However, there was no post-race food and it was an open area that was just fenced off. This was a HUGE negative for me as I purchased Race Retreat mostly for the post-race food since I am always starving when I am done as well as the perk of being climate controlled. Since the price was only about $30 less for a whole lot less (and of what I find valuable), I opted to pass on Runner's Square. With that said, I hung out in the pre-race area and met up with friends, ate breakfast, etc until it was time to head to the corrals.

If you have ever ran the Walt Disney World Marathon or Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World, you know about the crazy walk out to corrals. If you haven't ran one of these races, the walk to the corrals is about a mile. Along the way you encounter the shuffles of runners on a narrow road wrapped in heat sheets, people sharing nervous and excited feelings, and of course the critical final porto-potty stop before the start line.

Each corral/wave went off a few minutes apart with cheers, fireworks and fanfare. Larger corrals had multiple waves to them, but the first few corrals (A-C, I think) had just one wave go off. Finally around 5:45 corral D was sent on our way.

The first mile went by quickly. Even though it was just a dark road (well lit though), the excitement and energy was great. Yes, a lot of runners were around but everyone seemed to have their polite princess behavior on. There was an awesome high school band greeting us along with some super energetic volunteers at the first water station.

Before we knew it we were approaching one of my favorite parts of this course - running through the Magic Kingdom toll plaza! Between the magical glow of the lights and the sound of "caution runners, speed bump ahead" coming from the volunteers, I get giddy each and every time.

Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) here we come! After about 4 miles of course support only from fellow runners and volunteers, it was good to see some signs and hear cowbells ringing. Oh! ...and the beat of these drums! I wouldn't dare complain about my legs being tired because these folks are beating on drums for 20,000+ runners to go by for probably close to two hours if I had to guess.

We continued our journey towards the Magic KIngdom we passed the Contemporary Resort which included some great cheers and the smell of breakfast coming from Chef Mickey's. Ok, so I don't know if that is really where it was coming from, but every year at that point in time I dream of the breakfast awaiting me after I cross the finish line.

Magic Kingdom here we come! Up until 2018, the course ran through a backstage gate near Space Mountain that dumps into Main Street, but a slight course change due to construction meant that we got to run through the front gate and onto Main Street!

I have a rule for entering Main Street - NO WALKING. Heck, you can walk down Main Street any time, it is time to "break the rules" and RUN! Plus you have hundreds of people cheering for you - show them what you got! Don't forget to look good for the pictures too. ;-)

With a right turn as you approached the hub, you enter into the futuristic world of Tomorrowland. A quick tour leads you past Stitch's Great Escape, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Tomorrowland Speedway, Mad Tea Party, and more

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

Next stop: Cinderella Castle! There is always anxiety about how crowded it will be going through the castle and if you will get to "run" through it or "shuffle" through a bottleneck. When Kara and I made it through, the crowd was fairly light. Not empty, but not a total bottleneck.

Once you exit the castle, take a quick swing to the left and get your official castle photo done. It takes a few minutes (if that), but it is so worth it! I have to give runDisney credit here, they really streamlined the castle photo line better than in the past to make it go by faster and photographers are set up in a way to have each runner be the only one in the shot.

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

As I started to make our way out of Magic Kingdom, I had to stop for a quick potty stop at real bathrooms at the Adventureland/Frontierland corridor. These are seriously the BEST bathrooms because there are so many stalls and no wait!

You exit Magic Kingdom through a backstage exit where the Festival of Fantasy floats and Disney royalty thanks you for visiting. You then hit a water station and 10K mark as you exit the backstage area.

Now it is time for the part of the course that I "dread." From around mile 6.5 until 9ish, you run mostly on a single lane of road which makes for a pretty congested course. As long as people utilize race etiquette, everyone can still have a good experience.

Now it is time for my yearly public service announcement...every year I see at least one runner that insists that they are going to run on the other side of the road. People, the cones dividing the lanes is diving the running lane from the open traffic lane! I cringe every single time I see this! Please be safe and don't run in lanes that are open to traffic!

A favorite tradition of mine over the past 6 years of runDisney memories has been stopping at the Grand Floridian at mile 7 for one of my favorite "character" stops - Richard, the greeter and most amazing cast member from Grand Floridan. Richard always had a sweaty hug for me which I looked forward to at every runDisney race. Sadly, Richard passed away in 2018 and this was my first runDinsey half marathon since 2014 that I did not get to see that amazing smile at mile 7. I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little emotional but remembering Richard made my heart fuller.

At mile 10, you go up that "infamous overpass" and head straight on to EPCOT. Is it really THAT bad? If you only run on flat, it is probably tough getting over the overpass. However, being from Atlanta, we run hills...lots of them, so it isn't that big of a deal (just the slant is a little weird if you are running on the inside).

While this stretch in the back half of the course can get a little dull because it is a long stretch of road, runDisney spaces out different character stops and photo ops along the way to add a little Disney flare even though you aren't in the parks.

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

EPCOT, we are here! Weeeeeeeeee! After the past few miles on the roads, it was great to be back in the parks for some fun. While you are at mile 12+ and tired, the energy in EPCOT is what you need to finish strong.

We looped through a backstage area and came in by Journey Into the Imagination with Figment and by The Land before heading towards Spaceship Earth and the finish (no heading towards the lagoon). I actually preferred this final stretch over the one I have ran in the past as it wasn't as tight and no weird u-turn at the lagoon.

My 117th half marathon is done. Y'all don't me wrong, I totally love Princess Half Marathon Weekend. It was my first runDisney race weekend and holds many special memories in my heart. However, the vibe at the WDW 1/2 Marathon is soooo much more chill. I will put it like this, some princesses like to get their tiaras a little twisted and such which get some folks a little more edgy. This was definitely a much more enjoyable race and less crowded feeling on the course.

Credit: Disney PhotoPass

After collecting my medal, snapping some pics and meeting up with a few friends, I headed back to the resort to relax and get ready ready to play in the parks for a bit this afternoon.

It was a fun filled day of friends, running and celebrating at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. However, even though I was not running the marathon tomorrow, I was chEARing on my amazing friends so I had another 3am to head out to chEAR.

FunnerRunner's 5th Blog-iversary.

1/23/2020

I cannot believe that the "birth" of Funner Runner was five years ago already! What a journey it has been! Funner Runner was started simply as a platform for me to document my own personal experiences at races, training, and the occasional random adventures. Well, before I knew it, things were growing much bigger than that and my little corner of the internet became a big part of my life.

Little did I know all the amazing motivation and people that my blog would bring into my life over the years. Thank you to each and every one of you for following my journey the past three years. You and been there through my successes, tough training runs, and of course my many crazy adventures!

I have done a lot over the past year - 53 races, traveled to some pretty fun places, met some awesome people, and made countless memories. To celebrate Funner Runner's fifth anniversary, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of my favorites of the past year.

1. Favorite Local Race (Atlanta)

Hands down Peachtree Road Race on July 4th is my absolute favorite Atlanta race. Period. This race is everything that I love into one - America, running, friends/family, amazing course support, and more! Let's be real, it is more like a 6.2 mile party than a race, but you can certainly run it any way you want to. Remember, Atlanta Track Club members (as of 2/1/20) receive guaranteed entry from March 15-22 (versus the lottery for non-members).

2. Favorite Destination Race

It was so awesome to go back to Pittsburgh in May to run the Pittsburgh 5K and Half Marathon! The entire race weekend was awesome and full of sightseeing, family, and friends. Oh yea, and 16.2 miles of running some of the iconic bridges and parts of Pittsburgh as I take on the Steel Challenge (5K on Saturday and Half Marathon on Sunday)! Sadly, I won't be making it back to Pittsburgh this year because I have some new travels planned for 2020 and I have to spread the travel budget out a bit.

3. Favorite Medal
I admit it, I can be a bit of a medal snob. It isn't always about the size of the medal, if it spins, or even the design. Sometimes it is about the memories from the medal. While every medal has a story, the one that really sticks out for me this year is my second Savage Race medal of 2019. This was my first obstacle course race that I was running solo. Yes, I was trained, but it was time to put everything together. I conquered fears and really proved things to myself that day.

4. Favorite New Race
As I started taking on more 5Ks, I started discovering more "new to me" or new races. While it wasn't a new race exactly, one of my favorite new races in 2019 was the Hotlanta 5K. Yes, you have heard me talk about the Hotlanta Half Marathon a number of times over the past few years, but new for 2019 was the Hotlanta 5K which is the same amazing race day experience, just with 10 less miles involved. While I was sad to not be running the half marathon, I absolutely loved the new 5K option. I was able to run the distance that I was cleared to do, enjoy the post-race events and cheer on the runners coming into the final stretch of the half marathon.

5. Favorite Memory
Due to medical issues earlier in 2019, I had to scale back my mileage for a while. I went from running several half marathons a month to not running a single one for over six months. The day that I got the "all clear" to be able to start adding more mileage was one of my favorite moments for sure. The road back to 13.1 wasn't easy, but I it made crossing the finish line of the 2019 Atlanta Thanksgiving Day 1/2 Marathon THAT much sweeter!

Credit: EnMotive

Thank you again to all of my family, friends, and followers for your support over the past year! It has been a great year for me and I cannot thank you enough for following along in my journey. Cheers to making year five even bigger, better, and of course FUNNER!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I cannot thank you enough, but to celebrate how about a fun little GIVEAWAY! Head over to my Instagram page for your chance to enter to win a a pair of Goodr sunglasses, $25 RoadID giftcard, and a Momentum Sparklet, Footnote and keyfob.

<3 Much love to each and every one of you all.

Resolution Run 5K - January 1, 2020

1/22/2020

A few years ago, I started my New Year's Day tradition of taking part in a Resolution Run. What better way to start the new year than with a run. While the race that I have ran has changed ownership, location, and distances over the past few years, it is always a great time!

For a few years, Atlanta Track Club held their Resolution Run as a 4 Miler in Brookhaven but in 2018 it moved to Piedmont Park and changed back to a 5K. Y'all know that I love Atlanta Track Club events, so of course I would be at the Resolution Run 5K to kick off 2020!

The nice part about the Resolution Run is that Atlanta Track Club has a lovely 10:00am start time for the events (and 10:30 for the 5K). That means even if you stayed up to watch the ball drop or even had a few beverages, you can still get to that first start line of 2020 while still getting some ZZZ's! Atlanta Track Club is absolutely wonderful about promoting an active lifestyle for all members of the family. While the 5K was the most popular event of the morning, there was also a very popular
1-Mile and 50m Dash.

Thank you to the awesome volunteers and Atlanta Track Club staff who got everyone trough packet pickup quickly. There was also a great DJ getting everyone pumped and ready to go along with tons and tons of port-o-potties (always a great sight!).

Resolution Run is a lot like most of Atlanta Track Club events with several self-seeded corrals. I chose my appropriate corral and waited for my wave to start. I waited just a few short minutes in the corral before the gun went off at 10:30.

After running many races at Piedmont Park (or at least part of it) over the years, I have learned the terrain like the back of hand basically. While all the courses have been different, the share a lot of the same portions of the park. This year, Atlanta Track Club threw us a little curve ball though and run the course the OPPOSITE way as in the past two years.

Things started a little congested, but thinned out pretty quickly. There was an uphill portion right towards the start of the course which caused a good amount of runners to slow down a good bit right away, but within about 1/2 mile in things were pretty clear. There are a few decent sized hills along the way with a good amount of rolling hills and "flat" portions the remainder of the way.

One of my favorite parts of the course is running Active Oval which is basically a light dirt and gravel loop in the park. There were even some junior runners out there logging their miles - I hope to see some of them rockin' at other events this year and especially at the Peachtree Road Race on July 4th!

Credit: Atlanta Track Club

After I finished and took a few pictures and waited for mom to finish. While waiting they started announcing some of the 1-Mile award winners...oh my goodness there were some true speedies in full force today! A HUGE congrats to each and every runner out there today for braving the rain and starting the year off strong!

It was an absolutely wonderful morning and a great way to kickoff 2020. After leaving the race we stopped and got some brunch before going on the rest of the day. Thank you to the awesome Atlanta Track Club team and of course all of the wonderful volunteers and emergency personnel for braving the cold and making this morning possible.

Atlanta Track Club hosts some of the absolute best races in the Atlanta area each year. The 2020 Atlanta Track Club Event Calendar has been released and there are already a number of races that I am excited to run in early 2020. Be sure to check out these races and get registered!

February 1 - Hearts & Soles 5K - Decatur (FREE FOR MEMBERS!)
March 1 - Publix Atlanta Marathon & Half Marathon - Atlanta
March 14 - Atlanta Hawks Fast Break 5K - Atlanta

There are so many benefits to being a member of Atlanta Track Club including race discounts, discounted training programs, and more. Perhaps one of the most sought after perks is guaranteed entry to the Peachtree Road Race 10K on July 4th.

Remember, you must me a member as of February 1, 2020 to be eligible for member registration in March. To become a member (or renew your membership), go to the Atlanta Track Club website for more information.

Rock n Roll Vegas 10K - November 17, 2019

1/21/2020

Disclosure: As a member of the Team Chocolate Milk team, I was provided with a complimentary entry to the 2019 Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas and VIP access. This provides me with entry to the race, however no other compensation was provided and all travel and other expenditures are paid for by me. As always, all thoughts are strictly my own.

To be honest, night races can be a little tricky. What do you do all day? What do you eat/drink? When do you eat/drink? As someone who mainly runs (and runs better) in the morning, I struggle preparing for evening races for sure! Throw in the temptation of all the fun of Las Vegas....whoa!

Despite how much fun there is to have in Las Vegas, I kept focused on my plan to take it easy during the day. However, I didn't want to lay around the hotel all day. I had an early lunch and some football watching which was a lovely way to spend the morning.

After enjoying our lunch and people watching in one of the finest places on earth, we headed back to our hotel to get some rest and get ready to run the Las Vegas Strip!

Long story short, I was registered for the half marathon...my return to half marathons after about six months off due to medical reasons (we will save that story for another time). Part of my agreement with my doctors when I got to start increasing my mileage was listening to my body and knowing when things are "too off." After feeling REALLY off the past few days (and even more on race morning), I had to make the tough but right decision to switch distances and run the 10K.

As I rode the monorail from MGM Grand to Sahara Las Vegas (the 10K start), I could see the crowds starting to form at the marathon and half marathon start village near Planet Hollywood. It was a tough pill to swallow to say the least, but I knew deep down that I it was the right decision.

The start line at the same location of the 5K at Sahara Las Vegas which was very easy to get to via the Monorail or a fairly inexpensive Lyft ride. Momma K and I arrived to Sahara Las Vegas via monorail about an hour before the race started. This gave us plenty of time to get through security, make our way to the restroom and drop our gear check off.

One of the best perks of this venue is the bathroom situation! First, it is indoor restrooms (yay, no porto-potty), but there are seriously BATHROOMS FOR DAYS! Yes, there were so many stalls that waiting to use the restroom was little to no wait this evening! It was quite entertaining to listen to all of the reactions as ladies entered the restrooms.

About fifteen minutes before the start of the 10K, Momma K and I headed over to the start line. While you had a corral indicated on your bib and there were corral signs to help you pace yourself accordingly, the 10K takes off in one wave.

One of my favorite parts of running The Strip is running past the different hotels along the way. These hotels are such beautiful focal points of The Strip and definitely offer quite a sight while running. This isn't what you see running in Atlanta, that is for sure!

Around mile 1.5 you hit one of my favorite spots on the course - Carl's Jr! When I have ran the half marathon the past few years, this is always a great pit stop for me to use an indoor restroom and pick up a Coke for a little pick-me-up. Since I was running the 10K this year and it was early in the course, I just stopped for a quick photo this year.

Running in Vegas wouldn't be complete without a picture some of the gloriously tacky wedding chapels along Las Vegas Blvd! All the things that make Las Vegas great all rolled up into fantastic venues to wed! Yes, please! We even passed the wedding chapel that Momma K and Papa J renewed their vows at on their 20th wedding anniversary.

Our 6.2 mile Las Vegas tour continued. Have you ever watched the show Pawn Stars? Well, you pass the pawn shop from the show, Gold & Silver Pawn, around mile 2 (mile 8 of the half and full marathon). The store was closed so no going in...whomp whomp. Hey, it is still fun to see.

We then made our way over to the end of Fremont Street before heading back south down Las Vegas Blvd for the last 3 miles towards the finish line.

As we approached mile 4ish (or mile 11 of the half marathon), there was a fuel station. Usually races provide things like fruit or gels for food fuel stations, but we greeted with something a little different. Potatoes. Yes, potatoes. You can do the research, but basically it has been said that potatoes are a great source of race fuel as they are packed full of carbohydrates and other nutrients.

As you pass Treasure Island, you know that you are almost to that sweet finish line! You can feel the energy coming from the finish line as you rock through the final .2 mile or so.

It is always a great feeling to cross a finish line, but Rock n Roll Las Vegas makes you feel like a total rock star when you finish. The lights, the music, the cheers. THIS is your moment!

The finisher chute is quite long at Rock n Roll Las Vegas. Like, half a mile long. You collect your heat sheet (if needed), snacks, drinks, and most importantly CHOCOLATE MILK before heading out of the secure area.

Since I completed the Remix Challenge (5K on Saturday and one of the Sunday distances), I had to go pick up our bonus bling. If you reached a Heavy Medal status of 5+ Rock n Roll half marathons or marathons this calendar year, you collected your Heavy Medal here as well. If you aren't familiar with the Heavy Medal series, you need to check it out!

Thanks to the team at Chocolate Milk, I was able to party like a rock-star after crossing the finish line with VIP access. Post race I was able to attend an after party at Drai's Nightclub which had a catered buffet , hosted bar, massage, and entertainment. It was definitely nice to have a nice indoor facility to enjoy post race amenities and to unwind a bit before heading back to the hotel to change and celebrate some more.

From the Rock 'n' Roll event staff, to the awesome volunteers, to fellow runners, and my friends sending virtual cheers all weekend, it was a memorable weekend to say the least. I am so thankful that we had absolutely beautiful weather this year!